Support for column and crosshead



June 10, 1958 H. B. ALBERS SUPPORT FOR COLUMN AND CROSSHEAD Filed Jan.'12, 1954 I 'llI 45 l,,@ l 30 45 4/ Il l lll I! 47 SUPPQRT F012 COLUMNAND CROSSHEAD Heinrich B. Aibers, Malverne, N. Y., assignor, by mesneassignments, to liairlwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa..,a corporation of Pennsylvania Appiication January 12, 1954, Serial No.403,539

7 Claims. (CI. 78-42) This invention relates to presses and the likewherein a crosshead, or similar part, is subjected to large stresses andis adapted to transmit such stresses to supports or col- For thispurpose the crosshead is supported on the columns, and the functions ofsuch support are two-fold:

First, the aforementioned function of supporting the crosshead, and,second, to transmit tensile forces from the crosshead to the column.Heretofore, these functions were normally performed by a support whichconsisted of nuts in threaded engagement with the column ends, but it iswell-known that failure often occurs at the threads of press columns.Attempts have been made to avoid the above drawback, but previousarrangements have not been satisfactory.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provideimproved means for supporting the crosshead on a column and transmittingthe tensile forces from the crosshead to the column without employingscrew threads on the column, but which will provide adequate supportingand force transmitting surfaces.

Furtherobjects and advantages of this invention will become apparent inthe following detailed description thereof.

The single view of the accompanying drawing is a front elevation, partlysectioned vertically, of a forging press embodying this invention.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is illustrated as applied to avertical forging press which comprises a base 10 which is fixed to afoundation 18 by means of arms or extensions, one of which is indicatedat 19. The base 14} carries a die support 11 to which is fixed a lowerdie 12. An upper die 15 is carried by a platen 16 adapted to be movedtoward and away from the lower die 12. The platen 16 is movable relativeto an upper crosshead 20 which is supported, in a manner to be describedhereinafter, on the upper ends of columns which are supported at theirlower ends by the fixed base 10. The movable platen 16 is provided withlugs or collars 17 adapted to slide upon the columns and be guidedthereby.

The upper crosshead 20 supports a cylinder to which may be admittedhydraulic pressure for lowering a ram 31 to the lower end of which theplaten 16 is fixed. The platen and its upper die may thus be operatedtoward the lower die to forge an object between the dies. When theforging is completed, the pressure is released from cylinder 30 and theplaten 16 and ram 31 are raised by means such as hydraulic cylinders(not shown) in which operate pistons connected to rods 32 fixed to theplaten.

It will be understood that the large forging pressures developed duringthe forging operation will be transmitted to the upper entablature orcrosshead, and the latter will transmit such forces to the connectionbetween it and the supporting columns 25. As stated in the introductionhereto, such connection heretofore consisted normally of nuts threadedon the ends of the columns, but since such connection was found to be afrequent cause of failure and other prior arrangements were not "atent2,837,944 Patented June 10, 1958 satisfactory, the present inventionprovides an improved connection which does not employ screw threads onthe columns.

This invention provides (1) that each column, shall be provided with anintegral or welded lateral extension, which in the form illustrated, iscircumferential, said extension having an outer and an inner surface,(2) that the crosshead shall be suspended from the outer surface of thelateral extension or from the column end, and (3) that the crossheadshall transmit operating stresses developed therein to the inner surfaceof the lateral extension to develop tensile forces in the column. Inthis manner the lateral extensions integral with the columns absorb allof the operating stresses heretofore normally borne by screw threads.

To accomplish the foregoing results, there is provided adjacent theupper end of each column a lateral extension or head integral with thecolumn. This extension has an outer surface 41 and an inner surface 42.A portion of the column extends axially beyond the extension 40 to forma guide post 45 on which is mounted a plate or auxiliary crosshead 47.Tie rods 48 which are provided with nuts depend from plate 47 andsupport at their lower ends the upper crosshead 20. In this manner theweight of the crosshead is supported on the outer surface 41 of thelateral extension 40.

For transmitting to the columns the stresses developed in the uppercrosshead, the latter is'provided with cylindrical lug members 50 havinga passageway 51 large enough to permit the lateral extension 40 to passtherethrough, each cylindrical member 50 supporting a split bearing 52having a projection 53 at one end seated within opening 51 and hearingat its other end on the inner surface 42 of extension 40. A splitbushing 54 positioned at the opposite end of opening 51 is held in placeby screws 55 and serves to guide the column.

It is apparent from the above description that the forces developed inthe upper crosshead will be transmitted through bearings 52 to thelateral extension 40 which is integral with the column. Thus there is noscrew threaded connection required to take up these large forces, andfailure due to such construction is avoided. The forces transmitted tothe inner surface 42 of the extension 40 will produce tensile forces inthe column which is held at its other end in the base.

For mounting the lower end of each column in the base there may beprovided an auxiliary crosshead or plate 57 similar to crosshead 47 andconnected to base 10 by tie-rods 58 which are provided with nuts.

The plates 57 have a central opening to fit over an axial extension orguide post 59 on the lower end of each column to engage the outer.surface 61 of a lateral extension or head integral with the column. Thebase is provided with a passageway 71 large enough to permit lateralextension 60 to pass therethrough. A split hearing 72, similar tobearing 52, is seated in opening 71 and bears against the inner surface62 of extension 60 and the outer surface 63 of the base 10, a splitstroke-limiting member being fixed to the base at the upper end of eachopening 71. The stresses developed by the press are thereforetransmitted to each column as tensile forces by reason of theirapplication to the inner surfaces 42 and 62 of the integral lateralextensions 40 and 60 of the column.

It will be clear that instead of engaging outer surfaces 41, 61 of thelateral extensions proper, the auxiliary crossheads 47, 57 may engageadjacent outer surfaces of the guide posts 45, 59 or column ends.Therefore, the expression outer surfaces of the lateral extensions asused in the foregoing description and appended claims is to beunderstood as including the outer surfaces of the guide posts or columnends.

Although round columns are shown in the drawing, the invention mayreadily be applied to tie-bars of rectangular cross-section such as barsof the laminated plate type.

\ Having described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a press and the like having a base, columns connected to the base,a crosshead, means whereby said crosshead is supported by said columns,and actuating means whereby stresses are developed in said crosshead,said stresses being transmitted from said crosshead to said columnsduring operation of the press, the improvement which comprises a lateralextension of each column integral .with the column, each of saidextensions having an outer surface and an inner surface, and means forsupporting said crosshead on said outer surfaces, said crosshead beinginoperative engagement with said inner surfaces for applying to, saidinner surfaces the stresse developed in said crosshead during operationof said press. A device as specified'in claim 1, in which the means forsupporting the crosshead on said outer surfaces comprises an auxiliarycrosshead-in engagement with each of said outer surfaces, and aplurality of tie-rods spaced from said columns and connecting saidauxiliary crossheads to said first-named crosshead.

3. A device as specified inr claim 2, inwhich eachvof said columns hasan axial extension, and each of said auxiliary. crossheads has anopening through which the respective axial extension projects.

4. A device as specified in claim 1, in which said crosshead is providedwith passageways through which. the columns and their lateral extensionsmay pass, and a split bearing member is interposed between the crossheadand the inner surface of each lateral column extension.

5. A device as specified in claim 1, in which said base is fixed and haspassageways therethrough, each of said columns extending through one ofsaid passageways and having a second integral lateral extension, each ofsaid second extensions having an. inner surface and anouter surface,means. being provided for supporting each column on said base,.and abearing being interposed between the inner surfaceof each. of saidsecond extensions and the outer surface of the base.

6. A device as specified in laim 5, in which the means for supportingthe columns on the base comprises auxiliary crossheads connected to theinner surface of the base and engaging the outer surfaces of said secondlateral column extensions.

7. In a press and the like having a base, columns conuected to the base,a crosshead having an outer end and an inner end, means whereby saidcrosshead is supported by said columns, and actuating means wherebystresses are developed in said crosshead, said stresses beingtransmitted from said crosshead to said columns during operation of thepress, the improvement which comprises a lateral extension of eachcolumn integral with the column, each of said extensions having an outersurface and an inner surface, said crosshead having openings permittingpassage of the columns and their lateral extensions therethrough, anauxiliary crosshead in engagement with the outer surface of each of saidcolumn extensions, a plurality of tie-rods spaced from said columns andconnecting each auxiliary crosshead to the inner end of said firstnamedcrosshead, and a split bearing member interposed between the outer endof said first-named crosshead and each lateral column extension, each ofsaid bearing members being seated at one end in one of said openingswhile at its other end engaging the inner surface of one of said columnextensions.

References (Zited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.18,342 Paul Jan. 26, 1932 336,604 Tweddell Feb. 23, 1886 610,524Cleveland Sept. 13, 1898 959,094 Wray May 24, 1910 1,580,894 Hummel Apr.13, 1926 1,632,462 Candee June 14, 1927 2,013,587 Stacy Sept. 3, 19352,722,144 Albers Nov. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 882,799 Germany June 19,1952 894,201 Germany Oct. 9, 1941

